State of the Senate right now

[Rococo4]

And Ill have to say again - I would rather see Specter defeated than in either the primary or the general because I dont want him chairing Judicary.

Toomey would be 50/50 at best, I understand that, but it is worth the risk.  I am sure Specter will win, he always fools enough people and this yr, gets Dems to register and vote for him.

Win or lose Toomey should be congratulated by all so these Senators (of both parties) cant ignore their constiuents for 5 years then pander to them in election years and expect to be unopposed by a serious candidate.

[Rococo4]

So you are more supportive of Democrats than Republicans.  I see exactly where you stand.

Rococo is right.

We are not tryingn to purge moderates.  There is no desire from me to oust Schwarzenegger form me out here in CA.  Mitt Romeny in MA, Pataki in NY, all fine with me, because that is the best we can hope for.  However, this is a special case.  Specter will cause more harm than a freshmen Democrat because of the power he will have.  Also, this is a state that just re-elected Rick Santorum.  They will, of course, elect Toomey if we send him up.

And by the way guys, the last time we tried to be a movement we won 49 states.

Thanks for the backup......good points about Romney, Arnold, etc.  Specter absoluetly would do more damage as Judicary Cmte. Chairman than a freshman PA Dem Senator

I just figured it out.....you moderates want Specter to chair the Judicary Cmte. It was so simple all along, and I missed it.  You want him to make sure only pro-abortion, pro affirmative action and pro democratic ideals get on the bench.  It is a great way to stop Bush appointments.  Specter is the key to this.  We need more judges like Souter and Kennedy, right?  Specter thinks so.  I think we all know where he stands on real conservative judges, and dont give me anything about Clarence Thomas - his support of him was nothing put an election ploy and to save his job after he brought down Bork.  Sicne this will be his last term, he can support his pro  abortion opinion all he wants, he wont have answer to anyone anymore.

[Kghadial]

Of course we Dems would like Specter to be the chair. We would much prefer Leahy though.

Kick out Specter and there is a decent chance that the senate goes Democratic.  Leave him be and its hard to imagine that the dems do better than hold even.

Pick your poison. Who would you prefer as judiciary chair? Specter? or Leahy?

This is a race we Dems can't lose.  Specter, who we like. Or we get a liberal Dem senator.

[Rococo4]

Of course we Dems would like Specter to be the chair. We would much prefer Leahy though.

Kick out Specter and there is a decent chance that the senate goes Democratic.  Leave him be and its hard to imagine that the dems do better than hold even.

Pick your poison. Who would you prefer as judiciary chair? Specter? or Leahy?

This is a race we Dems can't lose.  Specter, who we like. Or we get a liberal Dem senator.

Well you are making a big assumption that if Specter loses we will lose the Senate (legiatemtly this time, not on back room deals to get a defector like Jeffords).  I think we will hold the Senate anyways.  Maybe Leahy will get kicked off Judicary, like he was kicked off the intelligence cmte.  a while back for leaking classified information.  Yeah, obvioulsy dems like Specter.  Just like Republicans like Zell Miller.

[bullmoose88]

You think we'd want more judges like Kennedy or Souter?

You're absolutely right.

In case you haven't figured it out, there's a reason why we're called moderates, its because we're not far right wing conservatives. I'll take a Kennedy over a Scalia anyday, and I'll take Souter over Ginsberg anytime.

The Republican Party is not a single thinking being (ala the Borg), if you wish to turn it into such, then go ahead...I'm sure there are plenty other parties who wouldn't mind the millions of moderate republicans joining them.

[Rococo4]

You think we'd want more judges like Kennedy or Souter?

You're absolutely right.

In case you haven't figured it out, there's a reason why we're called moderates, its because we're not far right wing conservatives. I'll take a Kennedy over a Scalia anyday, and I'll take Souter over Ginsberg anytime.

The Republican Party is not a single thinking being (ala the Borg), if you wish to turn it into such, then go ahead...I'm sure there are plenty other parties who wouldn't mind the millions of moderate republicans joining them.

I am willing to take my chances that enough people wouldnt leave the party because of a Supreme Court appointee. No, the Republican party isnt a single thinking being, but when it comes down to it, there are far more people like me than Republicans who are pro-Specter / pro-Souter.

Most of the party does NOT stand ideogiacally with Specter.  We should not have to support every moderate.  We support all but one - Specter.  I dont like McCain, but I would back him in an AZ Senate Primary.

[ShapeShifter]

You think we'd want more judges like Kennedy or Souter?

You're absolutely right.

In case you haven't figured it out, there's a reason why we're called moderates, its because we're not far right wing conservatives. I'll take a Kennedy over a Scalia anyday, and I'll take Souter over Ginsberg anytime.

The Republican Party is not a single thinking being (ala the Borg), if you wish to turn it into such, then go ahead...I'm sure there are plenty other parties who wouldn't mind the millions of moderate republicans joining them.

I am willing to take my chances that enough people wouldnt leave the party because of a Supreme Court appointee. No, the Republican party isnt a single thinking being, but when it comes down to it, there are far more people like me than Republicans who are pro-Specter / pro-Souter.

Most of the party does NOT stand ideogiacally with Specter.  We should not have to support every moderate.  We support all but one - Specter.  I dont like McCain, but I would back him in an AZ Senate Primary.

All it matters is the letter that comes after their name.

[opebo]

We're better off with 50 or 51 reliable conservatives in the Senate than a 55 majority with 5 or 6 RINOs.  Keeps things consistent - especially things like committee chairmanships.  

I even think we're better off purging turncoats like Specter and ending up with 49 because then we can blame Leahy and the Dems for nixing more Scalia/Thomas-type judges - turns out the base for Senatorial contests in 2006.

[Rococo4]

We're better off with 50 or 51 reliable conservatives in the Senate than a 55 majority with 5 or 6 RINOs.  Keeps things consistent - especially things like committee chairmanships.  

I even think we're better off purging turncoats like Specter and ending up with 49 because then we can blame Leahy and the Dems for nixing more Scalia/Thomas-type judges - turns out the base for Senatorial contests in 2006.

Yeah I agree except I hope we dont lose the Senate - just Specter loses and Jon Kyl takes over for Orrin Hatch on Judicary.

We have a majority now, but it is not a "working majority."

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Amen, Bullmoose!

You think we'd want more judges like Kennedy or Souter?

You're absolutely right.

In case you haven't figured it out, there's a reason why we're called moderates, its because we're not far right wing conservatives. I'll take a Kennedy over a Scalia anyday, and I'll take Souter over Ginsberg anytime.

The Republican Party is not a single thinking being (ala the Borg), if you wish to turn it into such, then go ahead...I'm sure there are plenty other parties who wouldn't mind the millions of moderate republicans joining them.

[A-Max]

J.D. Ford.  What do you make of the GOP's cahnce in California given that the Gubernator is expected to campaign vigorously for our guy.

[The Duke]

You don't have an avatar, so I'll have to assume you are not from California.  I'll give some background in my answer then, just in case you aren't familiar with the state.

We have absolutely zero chance of winning this Senate seat.  Our candidate stinks.  He is Bill Jones, a former CA Sec'y of State, and a perfectly nice guy.  But to beat an incumbent Senator in a liberal state takes a GREAT candidate.  Jones is not that.

He ran a truly lackluster campaign for Governor in 2002, and got drilled in the primaries.  He said nothing of value in the senate primary and managed to win on name recognition.  I didn't vote for him in the primaries, I voted for Rosario Marin, a female hispanic that I thought had a better chance.

Bill Jones will get blown out even though Barbara Boxer is an awful Senator.  We get back only $0.77 on every federal tax dollar we pay.  This is the nation's largest state!  We should be able to get some decent federal aid.  We have crumbling roads.  We have the worst schools in the nation (aside from DC).  We get low Medicare reimbursement, given our standard of living.  CA taxpayers pay the bill for all the illegals that are on Medicaid and Medical even though the Federal government is supposed to pay those benefits.  It is probably the nation's largest unfunded mandate.

These are things that could beat Boxer if we had a decent candidate.  If a Republican said, "Boxer is the Democratic party's representative to California, I will be California's representative to the US Senate."  We might win, but not with Bill Jones.  He just isn't anything special.

Arnold is a great governor and great salesman, but this is going to be like trying to sell a ketchup popsicle to a woman in white gloves.  I even think Bush can win here, but I am very pessimistic about the Senate.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Marin definately would have been a better choice -- was she not able to raise enough money to beat Jone's name recognition or did she not hit TV - what happened?

You don't have an avatar, so I'll have to assume you are not from California.  I'll give some background in my answer then, just in case you aren't familiar with the state.

We have absolutely zero chance of winning this Senate seat.  Our candidate stinks.  He is Bill Jones, a former CA Sec'y of State, and a perfectly nice guy.  But to beat an incumbent Senator in a liberal state takes a GREAT candidate.  Jones is not that.

He ran a truly lackluster campaign for Governor in 2002, and got drilled in the primaries.  He said nothing of value in the senate primary and managed to win on name recognition.  I didn't vote for him in the primaries, I voted for Rosario Marin, a female hispanic that I thought had a better chance.

Bill Jones will get blown out even though Barbara Boxer is an awful Senator.  We get back only $0.77 on every federal tax dollar we pay.  This is the nation's largest state!  We should be able to get some decent federal aid.  We have crumbling roads.  We have the worst schools in the nation (aside from DC).  We get low Medicare reimbursement, given our standard of living.  CA taxpayers pay the bill for all the illegals that are on Medicaid and Medical even though the Federal government is supposed to pay those benefits.  It is probably the nation's largest unfunded mandate.

These are things that could beat Boxer if we had a decent candidate.  If a Republican said, "Boxer is the Democratic party's representative to California, I will be California's representative to the US Senate."  We might win, but not with Bill Jones.  He just isn't anything special.

Arnold is a great governor and great salesman, but this is going to be like trying to sell a ketchup popsicle to a woman in white gloves.  I even think Bush can win here, but I am very pessimistic about the Senate.

[Nation]

I don't know why all of you are so up in arms about Specter. He voted with Bush 89% of the time, and Toomey voted about 93% of the time as a US Rep.

And Rococo, even though it's impossible to truly tell, I highly doubt that there are more ultra right-wing Republicans then there are moderate Republicans. Same goes for the opposite end in regards to Democrats.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

of,

100% correct.  Keep in mind though that there are plenty of Toomey supporters (as I've found on other boards) that think President Bush is a RINO and a liberal.

For me, it's not about ideology.  I actually agree more with Toomey than with Specter.  But I want Specter to win because we need him to maintain the beautiful ideological diversity that exists in the big tent of the Republican Party.  If Roy Moron wants to be a Republican, Arlen Specter should get to be one too.

I don't know why all of you are so up in arms about Specter. He voted with Bush 89% of the time, and Toomey voted about 93% of the time as a US Rep.

And Rococo, even though it's impossible to truly tell, I highly doubt that there are more ultra right-wing Republicans then there are moderate Republicans. Same goes for the opposite end in regards to Democrats.

[opebo]

Bill Jones will get blown out even though Barbara Boxer is an awful Senator.  We get back only $0.77 on every federal tax dollar we pay.  This is the nation's largest state!  We should be able to get some decent federal aid.  We have crumbling roads.  We have the worst schools in the nation (aside from DC).  We get low Medicare reimbursement, given our standard of living.  CA taxpayers pay the bill for all the illegals that are on Medicaid and Medical even though the Federal government is supposed to pay those benefits.  It is probably the nation's largest unfunded mandate.

Of course you guys get less money back from the federal government - the reasons are two:

1) you only have two senators for 35 million people.  Tough luck there

2)  you keep electing senators and representatives from the long-term minority party - the Democrats.

[Rococo4]

I don't know why all of you are so up in arms about Specter. He voted with Bush 89% of the time, and Toomey voted about 93% of the time as a US Rep.

And Rococo, even though it's impossible to truly tell, I highly doubt that there are more ultra right-wing Republicans then there are moderate Republicans. Same goes for the opposite end in regards to Democrats.

Yes it would be hard to tell, but I bet that more Republicans overall would prefer Toomeys voting record over Specter.  I dont really care how Specter has voted, as I have said before, I just dont want him to be in charge of the Judicary Cmte.  If he wasnt in line for that I would probably back him just to keep the seat safe.